Pilot compartment



July 9, 1946- c. H.,z|MMl-: RMAN 2,403,838

` Y yPILOT COMPARTMENT y Filed oct. 1e, 1941 '4 sheets-smul f lNyENToR v S Charleslzlmmerman ATTORNEY.

July 9, 1946. c. H. ZIMMERMAN PILOT COMPARTMENT Filed oct. 16, 1941 4 sheets-sheet 2 INVENToR ,CharlesHZlmmez'man ATTORNEY.

may 9, 194s.

c. H. zlMMx-:RMAN v PILOT COMPARTMENT' Filed oct. 16, '1941'- 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTQR Charleslzimmerman ATTORNEY.

Jul? 9, 1946- c. y|-|. ZIMMERMAN 'y 2,403,838

- PILOT COMPARTMENT v Filed oct. vles, 1941 4 sheets-sheet 4 INVEN-roR CharleslZimmerman ATTORNEY,

Patented July 9, 1946 I.)NIIyEfD;v STATES PATENT OFFICE v Y' 2,403,838 Y y PEOTICOMPARTMENT Charles Zimmerman, Nichols, Conn., assigner to United Aircraft Corporation, East Hartford, Conn.,`a corporation of Delaware A pplcationootdberwl, 1941, Serial N0. 4155.159

v Claims. 1

vThis invention relates. to. improvements .in airplanes and has lparticular reference to ,an improizedpilot compartment and control apparatus for an airplane of a type which -permitszthe pilotk to assume `a prone `position in lthe ipilots compartment. 4 l f 'An object of the invention 'resides in the provision of an :improved Ypilots Ycompartment and control `apparatus of the character indicated which willfpermitthe pilot tov remain comfortably in a prone 'position while flying the airplane.

Alfurther object resides in the Provision ofsa pilotfs compartment and control apparatus ofthe character `indicated including yfeaturesof adjustment Icy meansof which the pilot Asupporting elements .can be adjusted tot'fcomfortably support pilots 'of Various weights :and sizes.

A still: further objectresides inthe provision of a pilotls compartment and :control apparatus of the. character indicated in whicha portion of the control apparatus.cank be moved to 'provide 2 ing. and airplane control elements when the v'pilot yenters or leaves the pilotscompartment.

:Fig.5fis a plan vView similar vto Fig. 3 but also showing the position ofthe pilots supporting .and

- tached to permit it to l.move to a 4position permitting the pilot to conveniently enter or *leave the pilotis compartment.

` Referring` tothe drawings 2in detail, in Fig. l

- there is illust-rated' an airplane'of the type referred to, that is, a low aspect 'ratiomonoplane an opening for convenient entry and exit of the pilot to and from the compartment andmay be coveniently connected vin operative position after apparent as the description proceeds.

In the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals are usedto designate similar parts throughout, there 'is'shown a suitable mechanical embodiment' ior'the purpose of disclosing the invention. The drawings, however, are for the purpose of illustration only and are not to be taken as limiting or restricting the invention since it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes in the illustrated embodiment may be resorted to without in .any way exceeding the scope of the invention.

.In the drawings,

Fig. l isa side-elevational view of an airplane of the character referred to showing in vdotted outlines the position of the "pilot in the pilot's compartment of such an airplane. y

Fig.` 2 is a view on an enlargedscale of afrag'- mentary portion of the airplane-'shown in Fig. 1 showing vin greater detail the-position of the pilot in the pilots compartment lof such an airplane and the arrangement ofthe pilotsupporting and airplane controlv elements.

Fig.- 3 is a top plan View of the portion ofthe airplane shown in Fig. 2 also showing'the pilot supporting and airplane controlling elements.

Fig. iis aside elevational lview similar to Fig'. 2 vbut'shovvingv the position of the .pilotis support- Vhaving inthe main wing portion thereof one or more 'engine compartments and a compartment for the pilot. In order that 'the airplane 'may have av minimum drag eie'ct, all extensions andv yprotuberarnces on the main 'wing Vcontour are eliminated insofar as possible. vAs the main wing has" not suicient thickness to permit the pilot to occwpy the normal sittingposition, the pllots compartment and theairplaneicontrols have been so arranged that the V.pilotv 'may occupy a proneposition within the depth :ofthe main wing portionof the aircraft. This arrangement provides an aircraft in whiehtheonly elements extending beyond the contour ofthe main Ywing lllare the stabilizing fins, one of which is indicated at l2, the rudders', oneuof which 'is indicated at I4, and the combined stabilizer, elevator and aileron elements, one of which is indicated at I6, and the propellers, one ofA which is 4indicated at I8. The pilots compartment occupies the forward center portion ofthe main wing In' and is provided with a transparent front-,portion which may be in the form of a small dome 20, particularly shown in Figs,"3 'and 5, extending Vslightly 'ahead'y of the ...leading edgeU of 'the vmain wing. This forward extension does not add materially to the drag of be utilized as the pilots positioning and safety This belt by attaching the ends of these straps to the pedestal 22 by a suitable quick detachable connection as generally indicated at 38. The parachute pack may be supplemented by other -cushions as may be found convenient or necessary for the pilots comfort. The chin rest 26 is carried on the vforward end of the-,front extension 24 by a pair of adjustable link members 39 and 40v I which may be manually positioned to bring the chin rest to the most convenient and comfortable `position for the particular pilot. The 'arm or elbow 4rest 281s also carried upon the pedestal 22 .and is likewise adjustable so that it just receives and supports the pilots elbow in the proper position for'the pilot to reach with his left hand the throttle and mixture. control levers 42 and 44.

'I'he leg supports 30 and 32 are pivotally connected -at their forward ends to the rearward portion of the pedestal 22, are provided at their midlength portion with-hinges, as indicated at 46 and 48, which are positioned approximately at the .location of the pilots knees when in position in the'compartment, and are supported at their rearward ends upon thepivoted links as indicated at 50 and 52 respectively. The .rearward ends of the leg support members 30 and 32 are connected'with the airplane rudders by suitable -means including the-,respective rods 54 and 56.

The connection between the rearward ends of the Vmembers 30 and 32 and the rudders is a dierential connection so arranged -that when the rearward .end of one member is moved .forwardly the rearward end. of the other member is moved rearwardly a similar amount azndvice versa. The

Vrearward `ends of the leg rest members 30 and ,32 are movable by changing the angular relation ,of the two portionsof each member. on opposite sides ofthe respective hinges 46 vor 48.

y As particularly ,shown in Fig. 3, -each of these leg.V rests has a sufficient width to comfortably .support the legs of the pilot and may conveniently comprise rod members oneither side and -a padded member between theside rod members on each leg rest. r Thus the leg rest 32 may have 'thel rod members 58 and 60 along the forward portion thereof4 and the rod members 62 and 64 valong the rearward portion thereof, a padded member 66 being includedbetween the forward Irodl members'58 and 60 and a padded member 68 being included between :the rearward rod members 62 and 64. The leg rest 30 is similar to the rest 3,2, described above, in all respects. At its rearward end each leg rest is pro-vided with a vtransverse bar as indicated at 10 Vfory the rest 30 and at 12 for the rest 32 which bars are adapted to engage with the foot of the pilot.V

,l With this arrangement, if the pilot desires to move the rod 54 rearwardly he will straighten his yleft leg thereby raising the hinge 46 when vhe raises the knee of that leg and simultaneously lengthening the member30. .At the same time e rod 54 moves rearwardly. Thedirection of'movet 'it is operatively connected with the linkage operating the elevator and aileron elements. This column is curved around the pilot, as is clearly shown in Figs. 3 and 4, and is brought to a position below the chin rest 26 where it is provided with ahandle 18. By grasping the handle 18 vwith his right hand fthe pilot can move the handle in any direction over an area beneath the chin rest and forward extension 24 sufficient to provide complete control of the airplane. This control column, as is clearly shown, is curved to the right of the pilot so that it does not in any Vway interfere with the left hand operation of the throttle and fuel mixture control levers. An ad- .justable armrest 18 is also provided for the pilots rightarm. 1

AImmediately to the rear of the pedestal 22 there is provided a door inthe lower surface of the pilots compartment. This door is Ihinged at its front end at 82 and swings downwardly, as particularly shownl in Fig. 4, to provide an opening for the pilot to enter or leave the pilots compartment. If desired', anextension 84 may be connected with the door to form avlower step for the pilot, as is particularly shown in Fig. 4, and andthis extension may be pivotally or slidably associated with the door in such a manner that itv can be made to overlap the door when the door is in closed position. The `limiting downward position of the door is determined by a tension membed,l such as the cable or link 86, to constitute the door and the lextension a firm and safe means for ingress oregress ofthe pilot.'

Since the leg rests 30 and 32 are immediately above the opening; in the lower portion of the pilots compartment provided by the door 80 it is necessaryy to make these members movable in orderthat the pilot vmay enterv or leave the pilots compartment. Withfthis purpose in View, the rod member 60 isprovided at'its forward end'with a hook 88v (liigs., 6 and 7) wh'ichengages with a slidable pin 90 secured in lugs 02 carried by the pedestal22 so that the forward end of this member can be disengaged'from the pedestal thereby permitting the inner edge of the leg rest to swing downwardly about the swivel connection 94 be- .tween the rod 58 and the lug 96 on the pedestal 22 until theV leg rest assumes a substantially vertical edgewise position. A swivel connection 98 is also provided between the rod 62 and the link 52 to permit this movement of the leg rest. The other or left hand leg rest is provided with similar connections and may also be freed to swing downwardly to a vertical edgewise position. After the two leg rests have been brought to their vertical position they will assume the position particular- 'ly shown in Fig. 54 in which the hinge points46 and 48 are far enough apart to permit the pilot toi-,enter or leave the compartment between the two leg rests. VIf desired, additionalh'inges may be provided in thev leg rests, as indicated at |00 and |02 respectively, .to render'these elements even more' iieXibla'and lost motion connections, as indicated at |04 and |06, may be provided between the rearward ends of these members and therespective supporting 50 and 52 to permit: the vmembers'to'be moved a greater distance away from the center line of the pilots compartment to enlarge the space through which the pilot may enter or leave the compartment.

After the pilot has entered the compartment In addition to the door 80 in the undersurface Y of the pilots compartment an emergency exit opening |08 may be provided in the upper surface through which the pilot may leave the com-Y partment in the event it becomes necessary for him to abandon the airplane while in flight.

While a suitable mechanical embodiment for the purpose of disclosing the invention has been hereinabove described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the particular ar.- rangement so illustrated and described, but that various changes in the size, shape and arrangement of the various parts may be resorted to as come within the scope of the sub-joined claims.

Having now described the invention so that others skilled in the art may clearly understand the same, what it is desired to lsecure by Letters Patent is as follows: l

1. In an airplane having a pilots compartment in which' the pilot occupies a prone position, pilot supporting and airplane control meansrcomprising, control members adjacent to thel rear end of said compartment, and apair of leg rest members connected at their rear ends respectively to said controls and at their front ends to a xed portion of said pilots compartment and having hinges intermediate their length located at approximately the position of the pilots knees when the pilot is in position vin said compartment.

v2. The arrangement as set forth in claim 1 including transversev bars at the ends of Asaid leg rests joining ksaid rudder control members, and pivoted links supporting said bars from said airplane. Y

3. The arrangement as set forth in claim 1 including an entrance and exit door in said arplane below said leg rests, and respective detachable connections between said leg rests and said fixed portion of the pilots compartment whereby said leg rests may be turned to a vertical position and bent outwardly at said hinges to clear the area of said door.

Y 4. The arrangement as set forth in claim 1 including an entrance and exitdoor in said airplane below said leg rests', respective pivotal connections and respective detachable connections between said leg rests andV said fixed portion of the pilots compartment whereby said leg rests may be turned to a vertical edgewise position and bent outwardlyat said hinges to clear the area of said door.

5. The arrangement as set forth in claim 1 in `which the portions of each leg rest at opposite sides of the respective hinge are normally inclined downwardly toward-the hinge. f

6. Means for supporting an airplane pilot in a pilots compartment in which the pilot assumes a prone position comprising, a pedestal secured to the structure of said compartment, chest support means carried by said pedestal, airplane control members disposed in said compartment to the rear of said pedestal and supported on said structure for forward and rearward movement by the pilot to control the airplane and adjustable leg rest means hinged at their forward ends to said pedestal and having their rear ends connected to said control members for forward and rearward movements with the latter while said leg rest means continue to support the pilots legs.

7. Means for supporting an airplane pilot in a pilots compartment in which the pilot assumes a prone position comprising, a pedestal secured to the structure of said compartment, chest support means carried by said pedestal, airplane control fmembers disposed in said compartment to the rear of said pedestal and supported on said structure for forward and rearward movement by the Vpilot to control the airplane and a pair of adjustable leg rests hinged at their forward ends to said pedestal forming a continuation of said chest support and having their rear ends separately connected to said control members for differential forward and rearward movements with the latter while said leg rests continue to support the pilots legs.

8. In an airplane having a pilots compartment in which the pilot occupies a prone position, pilot supporting and airplane control means comprising, a, pedestal secured to the structure of said compartment, chest4 support means carried by said pedestal,VV airplane control members adjacent the Vrear end of said compartment, and a pair' of leg rest members connected at their rear ends respectively to said airplane control members and at their front ends to said pedestal, said .leg rest members forming a continuation of said means carried by said pedestal and extending` sideways therefrom and located below said chest support.

10. In an airplane having -a pilots compartment in which the pilot occupies a prone position, pilot supporting and airplane control means comprising, a. pedestal secured to the structure of Avsaid compartment, chest support means carried by said pedestal and extending forwardly thereof,

Y control members adjacent to the rear end of said compartment, and a pair of leg rest members forming a continuation of said chest support and extending rearwardly from said pedestal, said leg rest members being connected at their rear ends respectively to said controls and at their'front ends to ysaid pedestal and having hinges intermediate their length located at approximately the position of the pilots knees when the pilot is in position on said chest support.

Y CHARLES H. ZIMMERMAN. 

